Chapter three

Position on the Globe

Q1. Distinguish between latitude and longitude. Mention at least two points each. (BCSE
2008)

Ans:

Latitude Longitude
6. It is the north-south value of a point on 6. It is the east-west value of a point on earth.
earth.
7. Longitudes are lines going from North Pole
7. Latitudes are lines parallels to equator. to South pole.

8. All latitudes except equator are smaller 8. All longitude lines are great circle.
circles.
9. Prime meridian is the reference point for
9. Equator is the reference point for latitude. longitudes.

10. The distance between two adjacent 10. The distance between two adjacent
parallels is same everywhere except at the meridians is not the same everywhere.
poles.

Q2. It is 10 am in Bhutan (900 E), what is the local time at New Delhi (770 E) (BCSE 2008)

Answer:
Delhi: 77 Bhutan: 90

Time: Time
10am

Step1. The longitude difference is 130 (900 -770 =130 )

Step2. 10 = 4 minutes (rule)

Step3. Convert degree into minutes using equation ( 10 =4 minutes)

130 = ?

4’ x 13 = 52 minutes.

Since New Delhi is located to the east of Bhutan, we subtract time i.e 10:00 – 00:52 hours the
time at New Delhi is 09:08 hours or 9:08 am.

Q3. Determine the Longitude of Montreal, if the local time at Nairobi (370E) is 10 a.m.
When it is 2:36 am in Montreal? (BCSE 2008)

Step 1:

Time difference: 10 am – 2:36 am Montreal Nairobi

Or 10:00-02:36=7:24 hours

Step 2:

Convert hours in to minutes : 7x60+24 =444 minutes

Step 3:
Time:10am Time: 10am
1 degree = 4 minutes
Long: ? Long:370E
1 minute = ¼ degree

444minutes = ¼ x 444 = 111 degree

Since Montreal lies to the west of 37 degree E, hence we subtract Longitude 111 degree- 37
degree = 74 degree west.

Q4. Determine the time at 60oE longitude when it is 10 am in Bhutan. (BCSE 2009)

Ans:

Step1. The longitude difference is 300 (900 +600 =300 )

Step2. 10 = 4 minutes (rule)

Step3. Convert degree into minutes using equation ( 10 =4 minutes)

10 = 4’

130 = ?
 4’ x 30 = 120 minutes.

Step 4: Convert into hours

60’ = 1 hour

120’= ?

120’ / 60’ = 02:00

Since 600E is located west of Bhutan, we subtract time i.e. 10:00 -02:00 hours

The time at 600 is 08:00 or 8:00 am.

Q5. When it is noon at Greenwich, what is the Local time at 900E in Bhutan? (BCSE 2010)

Ans: Step1. The longitude difference is 900 (900 -000 =900 )

Step2. 10 = 4 minutes (rule)

Step3. Convert degree into minutes using equation ( 10 =4 minutes)

10 = 4’

900 = ?

4’ x 90 = 360 minutes.

Step 4: Convert into hours

60’ = 1 hour

360’= ?

360’ / 60’ = 06:00

Since Bhutan is located to the east of Greenwich, we add time i.e. 12:00+06:00 hours the time at
600 is 18:00 or 6:00pm.

Q6. State the name assigned to the following parallels of Latitude. (BCSE 2010)

A: 23.50S

B: 900N

Ans: The parallels of Latitude 23.50S is called tropic of Cancer.

The parallels of latitude 900N is called North Pole.

Ans:

Step 1:

Time difference: 17 – 12 noon =5 hours Place X GMT

Step 2:

Convert hours in to minutes : 5x60 =300minutes

Step 3:
Time:Noon Time: 5pm
1 degree = 4 minutes
Long: ? Long:00
1 minute = ¼ degree

300minutes = ¼ x 300 = 50 degree

Since place X is located west of GMT we subtract 500-00 =500W

Q8. What is a longitude? (BCSE 2011)

Ans: Longitude is an imaginary line which shows the place on the surface of the earth either east
or west of the prime meridian measured as an angle (in degree). For e.g. Bhutan is 90.43 degree
E. it means that Bhutan is located at 90.430 East of the prime meridian.

Q9. What would happen if the International Date Line is straight? (2011)

Ans: if the International Date Line were straight then it would cut country into two thereby
giving different day and date in the same country or island. Thus, in order to avoid this problem
international date line was drawn in zigzag places where there are land masses.
Q.10. Calculate the longitude of place (X) whose GMT is 7:00 a.m when the local time is
8:00 p.m (2011)

Step 1:

Time difference: 20 – 07 = 13 hours GMT Place X

Step 2:

Convert hours in to minutes : 13 x 60 = 780 minutes

Step 3:
Time: 7 a.m Time: 8 p.m
1 degree = 4 minutes
Long: 00 Long: ?
1 minute = ¼ degree

780 minutes = ¼ x 780 = 195 degree

Q.11 what is the time at Kazakhstan on 650 E longitude , when it is 2:00 am at Negro on
640W longitude? (BCSE 2011)

Ans: Step1. The longitude difference is 1240 (640 + 600 =1240 )

Step2. 10 = 4 minutes (rule)

Step3. Convert degree into minutes using equation ( 10 =4 minutes)

10 = 4’

1240 = ?

4’ x 124 = 496 minutes.

Step 4: Convert into hours

60’ = 1 hour

496’= ?

496’ / 60’ = 08:16

Since Kazakhstan is located to the east of Negro, we add time i.e 02:00 + 08:16 hours. The time
at Kazakhstan is 10:16 or 10:16 am.
Q.12. What do you understand by GMT? ( BCSE 2012 )

Ans: GMT stands for Greenwich Mean Time. It is the time measured from Greenwich, London
situated on zero degree longitude and is used as a standard time.

Q.13. “The International Date Line is not a straight line”. Justify the statement with twi
reasons (BCSE 2012)

Ans: The International Date Line is not a straight line because –

1. To avoid land and leave island groups on the same side of the line

2. To avoid the confusion of having different day and time at the same.

Q.14. Bhutan standard time is ahead of GMT by 6 hours. Give two reasons. What is the
time at Place ‘X’ located at 200E longitude when it is 2pm at place ‘Y’ at 1100E?
(BCSE2012).

Ans: Step1. The longitude difference is 900 (1100 - 200 =900)

Step2. 10 = 4 minutes (rule)

Step3. Convert degree into minutes using equation ( 10 =4 minutes)

10 = 4’

900 = ?

4’ x 90 = 360 minutes.

Step 4: Convert into hours

60’ = 1 hour

360’= ?

360’ / 60’ = 06:00

Since Bhutan is located to the east of Greenwich, we subtract time i.e. 14:00 – 06:00 hours. The
time at place X is 8:00 hours or 8 am

Q.15 what is meant by International Date Line (BCSE 2013)

Ans: International Date Line is a north-south imaginary line which passes through the mid-
pacific ocean and roughly follows a 180 degrees longitude (on the opposite side of prime
meridian).
Q.16. When it is 10 pm (Monday) at 1100 E, what will be the time and day at 1100 W? (2013)

Ans: Step1. The longitude difference is 8800 (1100 + 1100 = 2200 )

Step2. 10 = 4 minutes (rule)

Step3. Convert degree into minutes using equation ( 10 =4 minutes)

10 = 4’

2200 = ?

4’ x 220 = 880 minutes.

Step 4: Convert into hours

60’ = 1 hour

880’= ?

880’ / 60’ = 14:40 hours

Since longitude 1100 west is located to the west of 1100 east, we subtract 22:00 by 14:00 (22:00 –
14:40

The time at 1100 west longitude is 7:20 am Sunday.

Q.17. When the time at 750E is 2 am, it is already 5 am at a certain place. Calculate the
longitude of that place. (BCSE 2013)

Ans: Step 1:

Time difference: 5 – 2 = 3 hours Place Y Place X

Step 2:

Convert hours in to minute : 3 x 60 = 180 minutes

Step 3:
Time: 2 am Time: 5 am
1 degree = 4 minutes
Long: 750 E Long: ?
1 minute = ¼ degree

180 minutes = ¼ x 180 = 45 degree East

Since place is located to the east of 750 longitude, we add 450 to 750. So the longitude is 1200.
Q.18. The use of great circle route is advantageous to the sailors. Do you agree? Give one
reason to justify your answer. (BCSE 2014)

Ans: No, the great circle is not advantageous to the sailors because the existence of ice over the
artic and Antartic regions makes navigation difficult.

OR

Yes, the great circle route can be advantageous to the sailors because it provides the shortest
route provided it does not take them into dangerous water.

Q.19. When it is 10am at 770 E, what is the local time at 920 E? (BCSE 2014)

Ans: Step1. The longitude difference is 150 (920 - 770 = 150 )

Step2. 10 = 4 minutes (rule)

Step3. Convert degree into minutes using equation (10 =4 minutes)

10 = 4’

150 = ?

4’ x 15 = 60 minutes.

Step 4: Convert into hours

60’ = 1 hour

60’= ?

60’ / 60’ = 01:00 hours

Since 92 degree is located to the east of 77 degree, we add time i.e. 10:00 – 01:00 hours.

The time at place X is 09:00 or 09:00 am

Ans: Step1. The longitude difference is 300 (900 - 600 = 300 )

Step2. 10 = 4 minutes (rule)

Step3. Convert degree into minutes using equation ( 10 =4 minutes)

10 = 4’

300 = ?

4’ x 30 = 120 minutes.

Step 4: Convert into hours

60’ = 1 hour

120’= ?

120’ / 60’ = 02:00 hours

Since place X is located to the east of Bhutan (900E), we subtract time i.e. 08:00 – 02:00 hours

The time at place X is 06:00 or 06:00 am

Q.21. Calculate the longitudinal position of a ship whose navigation officer observes that
GMT is 13 hours when the local time is 11 am. (BCSE 2015)

Ans: Step 1:

Time difference: 13 – 11 = 2 hours

Step 2:

Convert hours in to minute: 2 x 60 = 120 minutes

Step 3:

1 degree = 4 minutes

1 minute = ¼ degree

120 minutes = ¼ x 120 = 30 degree west

The ship is located at 30 degree West

]Ans: Step 1:

Time difference: 16 – 10 = 6 hours

Step 2:

Convert hours in to minute: 6 x 60 = 360 minutes

Step 3:

1 degree = 4 minutes

1 minute = ¼ degree

360 minutes = ¼ x 360 = 90 degree west

Therefore, the longitude is 900 West.

Q.23. Calculate the time at place ‘X’ (600 E), when it is noon in Bhutan.(BCSE 2016)

Ans: Step1. The longitude difference is 300 (900 - 600 = 300 )

Step2. 10 = 4 minutes (rule)

Step3. Convert degree into minutes using equation ( 10 =4 minutes)

10 = 4’

300 = ?

4’ x 30 = 120 minutes.

Step 4: Convert into hours

60’ = 1 hour

120’= ?

120’ / 60’ = 02:00 hours

Since place X is located to the west of Bhutan (900 E), we subtract time i.e 12:00 – 02:00 hours.

The time at place X is 10:00 or 10:00 am

Convert 5 hours into minutes i.e. 5 x 60 = 300 minutes

Since 10 = ¼ degree

Therefore, 300 x ¼ = 750

Since the given place is west of Bhutan (900), we subtract 900 by 750 = 150

Hence, the longitude of a place is 150.

OR

Step 1:

Time difference: 22 – 17 = 5 hours

Step 2:

Convert hours in to minute: 5 x 60 = 300 minutes

Step 3:

1 degree = 4 minutes

1 minute = ¼ degree

300 minutes = ¼ x 300 = 75 degree West

Since the given place is west of Bhutan, we subtract 900 by 750 =150

Therefore, the longitude is 150 West.